Newsroomhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us
Arlington County NewsroomSun, 20 Jan 2019 13:32:40 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9Arlington’s Tourism Ambassador: Meet AED’s Robert “Mo” Rouse https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlingtons-tourism-ambassador-meet-aeds-robert-mo-rouse/
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 14:52:03 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=20005If in the past five years you’ve hit one of the County’s hot spots, stayed in a hotel, or attended a large-scale event, chances are you’ve been in the orbit of Robert “Mo” Rouse.

Maybe you’ve picked up the hottest tips on what to see in and around Arlington. Maybe you’ve come out of the Metro station in Arlington’s busiest neighborhoods and spied him from afar. Maybe you’ve perused a welcome bag at one of the County’s 45 hotels. Maybe you’ve simply spotted an Arlington landmark on the big screen.

In a single year, Mo provided tips and directions to more than 8,000 people at Arlington’s Mobile Visitors Center, served another 5,000+ visitors at special events, like the Marine Corps Marathon and Taste of Arlington, and handed out more than 300,000 StayArlington maps, Visitors Guides and other regional tourism materials.

He sat down with us to give us the behind-the-scenes view of his public-facing role.

Q: To get started, please describe your role with the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service.

A: My role is to work closely with the Visitor and Convention Services Manager, Monica Cannon, to ensure that we provide the best visitor experience to tourists that are planning a trip to the area. We also provide the best customer service experience to those visitors that I greet March through November at the Mobile Visitors Center. And then we also make sure that the 45 hotels that we have in Arlington are supplied with our marketing materials—that’s the visitor guide, the maps, brochures.

In addition to visitor services, I am the film office coordinator. I am basically the conduit for anyone wanting to film in Arlington County, be it a TV special or movie or a documentary, or just wanting to do something in one of the parks.

“That’s what we’re here for—to make sure that the general public has as much information about Arlington County as they can.”

Q: One of your main responsibilities is greeting visitors at the Mobile Visitors Center around the County. Walk us through that process and how you manage it.

A: We are in four neighborhoods, five days a week— Crystal City, Ballston, Rosslyn, Pentagon City, and then we circle back to Crystal City. I make sure that our Mobile Visitors Center is stocked, as though we were stocking a storefront. I make sure we have all the latest information. It’s a great job where I am interacting with the people on a daily basis; I’m meeting new people. A lot of people are really excited to see a Mobile Visitors Center in the neighborhood where they’re staying—when they’re coming out of the Metro and there I am. That’s a real plus for us to be able to be mobile and take our information to the public instead of the public having to find us.

That’s what we do; that’s what we’re here for—to make sure that the general public has as much information about Arlington County as they can. If you don’t know, and if I don’t provide you with enough information, I haven’t done my job.

Q: You have a very public-facing role with the Mobile Visitors Center, but what are some aspects of your job that the public might not see?

A: We are very heavily involved with conventions, family reunions, conferences, and things of that nature. Between myself and the Visitors Services Manager, we put together packages for these groups. One of the things that I take pride in doing is making sure that we have every possible brochure that is out there for the public. That is not only Arlington County. We work very closely with the Visitor Centers and the welcome centers in Virginia, from the north to the south.

Q: What is a typical work day like for you?

A: No two days are the same. During the season, it’s pretty set what we’re going to do, but within the season there are several events that we participate in with the Mobile Visitors Center from a marketing perspective. There’s the Rosslyn Jazz Fest, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival, Taste of Arlington, and the Marine Corps Marathon. [The MCM] culminates the season for us. We have the mobile visitors center there to answer any questions that people who have never been here before may have.

Q: How do you feel your work makes a difference in not only Arlington visitors, but also residents and businesses?

A: We work very closely with the businesses; we want to help businesses that have something we can market to the general public. A prime example would be the new Observation Deck. We worked closely with that organization to make sure that in every neighborhood I was in with the Mobile Visitors Center, I was promoting our newest attraction. And the neighborhoods love it because they understand that we are there for them as well as the tourists. Residents often have family or friends who come to the area and they look forward to seeing me so they can get the latest information. It really has become a great win-win for all of us involved.

Q: What excites you about the work you do for the ACVS and Arlington County?

A: I love people, and I enjoy making people happy. I’ll give you an example: We had a couple arrive in town just as I was closing the Mobile Visitors Center for the day, and they were not really sure where they were going. I stayed the additional two hours to assist them, made the necessary phone calls and got them connected to their destination. That’s what we do! From a customer service standpoint, we want to make sure we provide the best service we possibly can.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Arlington County?

A: Arlington is almost a hidden gem. Even people who live in Washington, DC, aren’t familiar with all the amenities we offer, from the shopping, the dining, the attractions. A lot of people assume that Arlington National Cemetery, Iwo Jima, the Pentagon, the 9/11 Memorial and the Air Force Memorial are part of Washington, DC. Because they see it in the movies and they just assume. But there’s so much here. It’s really a fun place to market. It makes my job easier.

The review was initiated after staff determined that the conditions were structured similarly to the site plan conditions—and were treating school projects more like mixed-use projects. The large number of standards were creating delays in construction and the need for use permit amendments to address some of the complications caused by the conditions, which resulted in increased costs.

County staff worked with Arlington Public Schools to set 19 baseline conditions, with two additional conditions that would be applied on a case-by-case basis. The conditions are also expected to be modified in every project, in recognition that no two school projects are alike.

For example, in the Reed School use permit review, modifications were made to two of the 19 baseline conditions (outreach during construction; streetscape and utility improvements) to meet the needs of the specific proposal. Then, four site-specific conditions were added, bringing the conditions total to 23.

]]>Top 10 Stories of 2018https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/top-10-stories-2018/
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 17:44:45 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=20059From the Stanley Cup to Amazon, it was another good year in Arlington County.

2018 also ushered in new ways we communicated with Arlington, whether here in our new-look Newsroom, or on Arlington TV’s YouTube channel. And you welcomed that shift in storytelling, leading to unprecedented readership last year. So before we fully welcome 2019, we want to share the 10 most popular stories of 2018:

10. Get to Know 5 Women Who Keep Arlington Safe

They fight fires and respond to medical emergencies. They proactively patrol your neighborhoods. They ensure the proper intake and release of inmates at the County jail. They answer 9-1-1 calls. Women in Arlington County’s public safety agencies and departments take on a diverse array of roles, and in May, we introduced you to five of them, from a Corporal in the County Police Department to a Firefighter to a Dispatcher in Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management.

The yarn bomb, a type of graffiti or street art of knitted or crocheted yarn, was installed by Stitch 4-Stage IV, a group that uses these displays to help raise awareness of Metastatic (Stage IV) Breast Cancer. Originally the exhibit was scheduled to remain on display until April 30, but the public response was so overwhelming, the Department of Parks and Recreation approved an extension into May.

The vibrant nightlife scene in Clarendon only got bigger in 2018. And with that growth came the need for safer travel there and back. The Police Department stepped in and, working with Lyft and Uber, along with Red Top Cab, designated weekend pick-up and drop-off locations. In addition to overall safety, the initiative aims to curb illegal practices, such as double parking and stopping in travel lanes, bus stops, bike lanes and crosswalks, to load and unload passengers.

7. Say Goodbye to this Courthouse “Slip Lane”

Remember that “slip lane” — the narrow travel lane for vehicles — connecting eastbound Clarendon Boulevard to 15th Street North? In 2018, it was replaced by an expanded pedestrian plaza with new landscaping, street furniture, and bike racks, and better sidewalks and ramps for persons with limited mobility. It was yet another example of the County working to make Arlington’s streets safer and friendlier for pedestrians.

A bit more than a week after winning the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup, the Capitals started their summer celebration with the Arlington County Police Department. It was an opportunity for police personnel to visit with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and team captain Alex Ovechkin — and, of course, to get their photo with the Cup. It was also a chance for Leonsis to thank the men and women of Arlington’s public safety departments — joining ACPD was the Sheriff’s Office,Fire Department and Emergency Communications Center.

“We can’t thank you enough,” Leonsis said. “We wanted to make sure that we had the opportunity to bring the Cup here, get some pictures and share in the joy.”

And despite some folktales about dragonflies — previously, it had been believed they descended from dragons, would sew snakes together and could measure human souls — all those dragonflies were, in fact, helpful, “catching and eating many insect pests, with damselflies in particular eating mosquitoes,” explained Abugattas.

AWLA’s Animal Control team determined both turkeys appeared healthy and uninjured, and that it was best to be allowed to continue on their way.

3. Changes Coming to Challenging Clarendon Circle

One of Arlington’s most highly traveled and complex intersections started to receive a makeover in 2018. Later this year, when construction is expected to be completed, the intersection of Wilson, Clarendon and Washington boulevards ― known as Clarendon Circle — will be a safer and more accessible area for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Improvements to this intersection were identified in the Clarendon Sector Plan, which was adopted by the County Board in 2006. When this project is complete, residents, businesses and visitors can expect a tighter intersection with shorter pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks and improved alignment of Washington and Wilson boulevards. Most notably, North Irving Street (next to Silver Diner) will be closed at the intersection, and green streets elements will be added. Closing this portion of Irving Street, which has low traffic volumes, will help make traffic operations simpler by reducing the number of streets at the intersection.

2. See Arlington and DC from 31 Floors Up

2018 saw the opening of The Observation Deck at CEB Tower in Rosslyn, and with it, stunning views of Arlington County from 31 stories in the sky. The observation deck is part of a larger plan to bring new energy to Rosslyn. Known as the Rosslyn Sector Plan and adopted in 2015, it calls for transformational improvements over the next 25 years to the area’s skyline, streetscapes, transportation network, parks and residential and commercial development patterns.

It’s not just views you get from the Observation Deck at CEB Tower. There’s little-known history, too — about the CIA, I-66, the Watergate and more, all of which are visible from the deck. And there’s a café and bar, offering snacks and drinks while you enjoy the 12,000-square-foot space. Oh, and it’s free for Arlington residents.

1. Arlington Selected for Major New Amazon Headquarters

Be sure to stay informed and engaged with the latest news and public events, all of which are detailed on the County’s Amazon page.

Relive the best moments from Arlington County in 2018:

]]>Learn About Arlington’s Financial Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotlinehttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/learn-about-arlingtons-financial-fraud-waste-and-abuse-hotline/
Thu, 20 Dec 2018 19:19:22 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19443Arlington County offers an easy, confidential and secure way to file complaints of suspected financial fraud, waste and abuse ― which helps the County maintain its high standards and reputation as a fiscally responsible government.

The Financial Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline enables anyone to make a direct report to the County either online or via phone. The website is available in Spanish and English. Phone calls can be taken in many languages.

Users should be sure to keep track of their username and password, so they can log back into the system or call back and check the status of their complaint. Remember — there isn’t a “Forgot Password” button because the system is anonymous and doesn’t know who users are. The anonymous system is the only way County staff can ask follow-up questions about a submitted complaint and get additional information that may assist in conducting a thorough review.

The hotline does not handle issues such as code enforcement, zoning or personal theft. Use the A-Z directory at services.arlingtonva.us to learn more about these topics.

]]>Guide to Celebrating the Holidays in Arlingtonhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/holidays-safety-christmas-tree-snow-guide/
Thu, 13 Dec 2018 20:53:01 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19869The holidays can be a wonderful time in Arlington, a chance to celebrate with family, spend time with friends, and reflect on a new year.

Arlington’s guide to the holidays is here to help make this season fun, festive and safe. We hope it is truly the most wonderful time of the year, no matter how you choose to celebrate.

Make a List, and Check it Twice

Ensure your holidays are as festive as they are safe by keeping in mind some of these tips and precautions this season.

Keep Your Pipes FOG Free — Don’t let the health of our sewers go down the drain — especially during the big cooking (and eating) holidays. Fats, oils and grease, known collectively as “FOG,” represent the most serious enemy of our sewer lines and is the No. 1 cause of sewage backups in homes. FOG builds up in sewer lines when people wash grease down the drain. Can it, cool it, and throw it away.

If You See Something, Say Something® this Holiday Season — With the busy Holiday Season upon us, residents and visitors of Arlington are asked to help keep our community safe by remaining engaged and alert. Police are reminding the public about the importance of the “See Something, Say Something®” anti-terrorism public awareness campaign and urging residents to report suspicious activity for investigation.

Holiday Food Safety Tips — As the end of the year approaches, it’s likely there are multiple meals and parties in your future. Carrying food from one location to another and sharing dishes with a crowd means more opportunity for bacteria to grow and cause food poisoning. Whether you’re an experienced cook or simply adding a dish to the potluck lineup, follow these steps to keep your holiday season food poisoning-free.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

There is no shortage of great options for your holiday shopping in Arlington (have you checked out the Made in Arlington pop-up market?). With major indoor and outdoor shopping venues, charming European-style promenades, and hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Arlington. And while you’re shopping this holiday season, keep in mind these great opportunities to help those who may be less fortunate.

Secret Santa — Want to help kids in foster care, low-income families and seniors, and people with disabilities? Learn how donating gift cards from area stores to the Secret Santa Program can make the holidays a bit brighter for more than 1,000 of your neighbors.

Let It Snow

While long-range forecasts vary, Arlington again hopes for the best — something like last winter’s lone one-day blast — while preparing for the worst. And remember that residents play a vital role in dealing with winter’s impact:

Coordinate with neighbors to park cars on one side of the street, where feasible, or avoid on-street parking so snowplow operators can efficiently clear a wider span of roadway

Don’t park “head in” on cul-de-sacs so plows have more room to maneuver

And Mom and Dad Can Hardly Wait for School to Start Again

With the Arlington Public Schools Winter Holiday running from Dec. 24, 2018 through Jan. 4, 2019, children in the County — and perhaps their parents, too — will be looking for fun seasonal activities. Fortunately, both Parks & Rec and Arlington Public Libraries have programs and classes to help keep every kid on the nice list.

Winter Break Camps — Kids can enjoy a variety of activities during DPR’s Kids in Action Winter Break Camps including fitness, health and nutrition, and creative arts, while those 10-14 years old will have fun games and trips with friends.

Holiday Drop and Shop — Parents, here is a great opportunity to get that holiday shopping completed. Drop off your child for a fun-filled evening of activities (obstacle courses, tumble tramp, foam pit, games and more) at Barcroft Sport & Fitness Center.Pizza and drink will be provided. $40 per child (ages 4-6). Sign up at registration.arlingtonva.us, activity #110510.

Upcycling Holiday Crafts: Book Trees — Join Glencarlyn Branch Library as they tap into some book-ish creativity by creating altered book holiday trees for a festive, literary centerpiece on Dec. 17.

Write a letter to Santa — On Dec. 18, kids can get help writing a letter to Santa. Everything you need will be provided at the Glencarlyn Branch Library.

Rockin’ Recyclin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Wondering what to do with that Christmas tree after the holidays? During the first two full weeks of each January, Christmas trees are collected curbside for residential homes with trash and recycling service. (Reminder: get the tree on the curb no later than 6 a.m., and remove all decorations.)

The trees will be transformed by the Department of Environmental Services into wood mulch for gardens. After Jan. 19, please prepare the tree for yard waste collection on your regular trash collection day.

Residents who don’t have curbside recycling service can bring Christmas trees to the Solid Waste Bureau during the Christmas tree collection season. Call 703-228-6570 to schedule an appointment, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

]]>December 2018 County Board Meeting Agenda Highlightshttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/december-2018-county-board-meeting-agenda-highlights/
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 13:01:36 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19830The Arlington County Board will say farewell to departing Board Member John Vihstadt, swear-in newly elected Board Member Matt de Ferranti, and consider dozens of items at its December 2018 meeting.

The Regular Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15, followed by the Recessed Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The County Board meeting is held on the third floor at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., and is open to the public. Visit the County website for information on speaking at a Regular County Board Meeting.

Watch it Live

All County Board meetings are live-streamed on the County website, and broadcast live on the County’s cable channel, ATV, with live captioning. You can watch the Board Meetings on Comcast 25 & 1085 (HD), and Verizon FiOS 39 & 40, or live-streamed on YouTube. Videos of Board meetings are archived on the County website (with captions and reports) and on YouTube.

Saturday, Dec. 15 – County Board Regular Meeting

(Note: The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. with public comment. Some reports will be posted closer to the meeting date.) View the agenda and read the staff reports. Highlights include:

Contract to improve Wilson Blvd: The Board will consider approving a $1 million contract with Sagres Construction Corp. to continue a project that is making Wilson Boulevard, a main east-west artery, safer for pedestrians. To read the staff report on this item, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 14 on the agenda.

The Board invites the public to join it at 11 a.m. (corrected from 1 p.m.) in the Board Room to thank Board Member John Vihstadt, first elected to the County Board in April 2014, for his service. A reception will follow in the atrium outside the Board Room.

2019 General Assembly Legislative Package: The Board will consider adopted the proposed 2019 General Assembly legislative package. The legislative package includes the County’s priorities for the legislative session, developed through the summer and fall in consultation with commissions, stakeholders, members of the public and the County’s legislative delegation. The public hearing on this item has been closed, and the matter is before the Board. To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 24 on the agenda.

Tuesday, Dec. 18 – County Board Recessed Meeting

5 p.m. – The Board will swear-in Member-elect Matt de Ferranti in a public celebration beginning at 5 p.m. The formal swearing-in will be followed by a reception in the atrium outside the Board Room, Room 307 in the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Mr. de Ferranti was elected to a four-year term on the County Board on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. The public is invited, and no RSVP is necessary.

No sooner than 6:30 p.m. – The Board will hold public hearings on, and consider, any items pulled from Saturday’s Consent Agenda.

]]>Arlington Readies for a Winter of Possibilitieshttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-winter-snow-expanded-tools/
Thu, 06 Dec 2018 18:00:03 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19652A snowy winter ahead would hardly be surprising after the super-soaked spring-summer-fall of 2018. While long-range forecasts vary, Arlington again hopes for the best — something like last winter’s lone one-day blast — while preparing for the worst.

New This Year

Should snow and ice make repeat appearances, Arlington will be ready to fight back with several potent tools.

New this winter is the 6,000-ton capacity interim road salt storage structure at 25th Street North and Old Dominion Drive. The modern, green-skinned “hangar” now houses previous inventory levels from the nearby old salt tank that dates to the 1920s, and the salt that had been stored on the property beneath a large industrial tarp. The new facility allows the County to continue operating an efficient hub for road treatment in north Arlington, complemented by salt storage and loading at the Trades Center facility in south Arlington.

Salt management technology continues to be a key to Arlington storm preparation. New gauging equipment is being piloted on some County trucks to better monitor brine and salt application rates based on road conditions and in the name of environmental sustainability.

Additional anti-icing equipment, including five new large-capacity brine tanks, were added in the off-season for treating bridges, sidewalks and narrow streets. Residents of such streets and cul-de-sacs will receive a mailing with tips to help the County maximize snow fighting in those neighborhoods, which will benefit from new computer-generated routing.

Also new this season will be a pilot of a public-facing online map showing near-real time plow activity across the County. Arlington is responsible for 1,059 miles of roadway, including newly acquired parts of Fairfax Drive and 10th Street North previously controlled and maintained by the state.

And the County is prepared to haul specialized tractors to clear its growing network of protected bike lanes, now at 3.58 miles.

Before, During and After a Storm

Arlington snow operations involve several agencies across the County as well as external partners, representing several hundred employees who work around-the-clock to keep core infrastructure and services running. Once a forecast calls for winter weather — snow, ice or freezing rain — Arlington crews follow the snow removal process and phases.

The County’s snow-fighting inventory includes 46 trucks equipped with a salt spreader and plow blade. Additional contractor equipment is available depending on the severity of the storm.

The County will continue to clear 10 miles of multi-use trails this winter season with specialized equipment. Trail and lane conditions are reported frequently by BikeArlington on social media. Arlington maintains a commitment to supporting a range of transportation options year-round.

How to Help

Residents play a vital role in dealing with winter’s fallout. The County’s Snow Removal Ordinance requires all Arlington property owners to clear snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours after the end of the storm for snowfalls of less than 6 inches, or 36 hours for those greater than 6 inches.

There are many other ways to assist in snow-clearing efforts:

Coordinate with neighbors to park cars on one side of the street, where feasible, or avoid on-street parking so snowplow operators can efficiently clear a wider span of roadway

Don’t park “head in” on cul-de-sacs so plows have more room to maneuver

The Department of Environmental Services briefed the County Board on this year’s snow response plans at its Recessed Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 27.

]]>Meet Arlington Fire Chief David Povlitzhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/meet-arlington-fire-chief-david-povlitz/
Wed, 28 Nov 2018 18:57:37 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19702When Fire Chief David Povlitz took the helm of the Arlington County Fire Department earlier this month, he brought with him more than 24 years of experience in fire, rescue and emergency medical services.

His career brought him from a firefighter/emergency medical technician in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County Fire Department ― where he retired as a division chief ― to the assistant chief of administration and process management in the Alexandria Fire Department.

Chief Povlitz sat down to reflect on his first weeks on the job and share his vision for the future of the Arlington County Fire Department.

Q: What drew you to a career in public safety?

A: I’ve always had a sense of trying to help. It was from my family and my upbringing; it was a sense of community. I have some very formative memories as a child of watching my parents, watching my family―if someone had rough times or needed help, everyone would rally around that person and rally around that cause. That planted a seed that has been with me for a long, long time.

I got a taste of [public safety] working a part-time job in college with hazardous materials response. I worked the superfund sites in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and a lot of my coworkers were involved in the volunteer fire service. So, I got involved as a volunteer firefighter, and I knew then that that was my career path.

Q: What made Arlington the right fit for you (and vice versa) at this point in your career?

A: What drew me into [the DC] area was the regional approach. A lot of us encircling the National Capital Region, the Northern Virginia Region, we viewed it as the model. So when the opportunity came to move closer to the region, I jumped. I was working in Alexandria, and I was an admirer from the south. I was able to see a lot of the Arlington County Fire Department responses on the borders. So, when this opportunity came up, it was full steam ahead.

I am extremely impressed with everyone I’ve met everywhere I’ve been―visiting the stations, having dinner with the shifts, and meeting everyone in headquarters and in County government. They’re top-shelf professionals who share a common approach and a common practice of trying to make the departments better, trying to make the County better.

Q: What are your first priorities for yourself and the Arlington County Fire Department as you begin your tenure in the County?

A: I have a lot to learn, and there’s a tremendous amount of help and support to bring me up to speed fast. We’ll probably put together a 2019 midterm plan. The first component is a community risk reduction assessment. What are the challenges that the community faces? And the neighborhoods? These communities and the County, are going to be changing over the next few years. How does that impact emergency service delivery?

Q: How do you hope to build on the Arlington County Fire Department’s strong legacy to best position the department for the future?

A: First off, I want to get a historical perspective. I’ve been talking with some of the past chiefs and some of the present leaders. I wanted to see what their perspectives were, what challenges they’ve faced over the past two, four, six years to get to this point. Also, a lot of things were already in process [when I got here]. There’s an incredible amount of just expert resources just arms lengths away, and I’m going to try to capitalize and get as much of their information and ideas as possible.

Q: Throughout your career also focused on relationships with public safety agencies statewide and across the region. How do you see those partnerships benefiting Arlington and the region?

A: We’re extremely fortunate that [our partnerships] are already very strong, and it’s just about building from that point. The way the emergency services system works in the Northern Virginia region, and also the [Metropolitan Washington] Council of Government’s region, everything is interconnected. Everyone knows their partners in the other jurisdictions in their specialties, and it’s simple to make a call, make a request, and resources flow, information flows. It’s the way emergency services regionally should work.

Q: What excites you most about working in Arlington?

A: The Arlington County Fire Department is very high level. The state of resources of facilities, the fleet, the high caliber of people―my imagination is continually spinning. I can see amazing things in the future. It’s also that wherever I’ve visited, traveled, or spoken [in the County], they have similar ideas. Everyone is thinking, what can we do next? How can this be better? That’s an amazing situation to walk into. Some of the programs and processes that are already in place are amazing, and they can be advanced. It’s really a wide, blue sky kind of environment.

Q: What do you want the Arlington community to know as you begin your work here?

A: It’s not about me personally; it’s more about the collective as a whole. It’s everyone doing the small things that make all the big things go so much better. It’s the small details to make sure our fleet is in the best maintenance state, is always ready and can be called at a moment’s notice. That makes the large incidents and the frequent incidents in emergency medical services calls that we provide all day long go so much better. We’re part of a system. Everything is tied in. And it’s been well functioning for a very long time.

I have observed a strong and established commitment from Arlington County government to public safety. It is very clear that all levels and roles of the department are dedicated to high levels of care, compassion, and urgency when providing emergency services. To that cause, there are constant discussions and circulating ideas on how to do things safer, faster, and with greater reach. That frame of mind and focus is what makes me proud to be part of the Fire Department.

Dr. Allison Finkelstein is the chair of the Arlington World War I Commemoration Task Force, which was created to lead the County’s efforts to recognize the 100th anniversary of the first World War. The task force’s work will culminate with the centennial of Armistice Day on November 11.

Finkelstein earned her Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she also studied Historic Preservation. A specialist on World War I, her scholarship has been published in Buildings & Landscapes: The Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum and the National Park Service’s new book of essays, “World War I Remembered.” Allison frequently presents at scholarly conferences and was featured on C-SPAN “American History TV” as an expert narrating WWI era silent films.

This is the first in a video series highlighting members of Arlington County’s advisory groups, commissions, and committees.

]]>Changes Coming to Challenging Clarendon Circlehttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/changes-coming-to-challenging-clarendon-circle/
Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:51:05 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19263One of Arlington’s most highly traveled and complex intersections is getting a makeover. The end result? A safer and more accessible area for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Work began last month on the intersection of Wilson, Clarendon and Washington boulevards ― known as Clarendon Circle ― a popular area that’s home to some of Arlington’s best-known businesses.

Improvements to this intersection were identified in the Clarendon Sector Plan, which was adopted by the County Board in 2006. When this project is complete, residents, businesses and visitors can expect a tighter intersection with shorter pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks and improved alignment of Washington and Wilson boulevards.

“This project will bring a huge improvement to the experience of those walking or biking in the area, and make it easier for drivers to understand how vehicles should move through this large intersection,” said Gabriela Vega, the County’s project manager.

Most notably, North Irving Street (next to Silver Diner) will be closed at the intersection, and green streets elements will be added. Closing this portion of Irving Street, which has low traffic volumes, will help make traffic operations simpler by reducing the number of streets at the intersection.

In addition, there will be upgraded traffic signals, new Carlyle streetlights, wider center medians at all crossings, curb extensions at the Liberty Tavern corner, new bike lanes and new street trees.

Residents and visitors should expect travel lane and sidewalk closures throughout construction, but no full road closures are planned. The first phase of construction will involve concrete work along eastbound Washington Boulevard, west of Wilson Boulevard and Fairfax Drive.